NHL: Teams ready for Stanley Cup Playoffs
{{date|April 9, 2007}}
{{Stanley Cup Playoffs 2007}}

Sixteen teams are ready to start the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The NHL has yet to announce dates and times for all games in the conference quarterfinals, but the first round will begin on April 11 and the match-ups are set as follows, with the top seeded team of each match having home-ice advantage:

;Eastern Conference
*{{w|Buffalo Sabres|Buffalo Sabres}} (1) vs. {{w|New York Islanders|New York Islanders}} (8)
*{{w|Ottawa Senators|Ottawa Senators}} (4) vs. {{w|Pittsburgh Penguins|Pittsburgh Penguins}} (5)
*{{w|New Jersey Devils|New Jersey Devils}} (2) vs. {{w|Tampa Bay Lightning|Tampa Bay Lightning}} (7)
*{{w|Atlanta Thrashers|Atlanta Thrashers}} (3) vs. {{w|New York Rangers|New York Rangers}} (6)

;Western Conference
*{{w|Anaheim Ducks|Anaheim Ducks}} (2) vs. {{w|Minnesota Wild|Minnesota Wild}} (7)
*{{w|Vancouver Canucks|Vancouver Canucks}} (3) vs. {{w|Dallas Stars|Dallas Stars}} (6)
*{{w|Detroit Red Wings|Detroit Red Wings}} (1) vs. {{w|Calgary Flames|Calgary Flames}} (8)
*{{w|Nashville Predators|Nashville Predators}} (4) vs. {{w|San Jose Sharks|San Jose Sharks}} (5)

Going into the final day of the regular season, the {{w|Toronto Maple Leafs|Toronto Maple Leafs}} were ahead of the Islanders by one point and in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, but an Islanders win moved them a point ahead of the Leafs and secured their spot into the playoffs. Last year's champions, the {{w|Carolina Hurricanes|Carolina Hurricanes}}, became the third team to win a Stanley Cup and fail to reach the playoffs the following season.

Having the best regular season record in the league, the Sabres took home the {{w|Presidents' Trophy|Presidents' Trophy}}. The Sabres earned 113 points from 53 wins, 22 losses, and 7 overtime losses. The Red Wings won the Western Conference crown with 113 points from 50 wins, 19 losses, and 13 overtime losses.

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&page=StandingsPage&type=CON
|title=Final Standings
|author=
|pub=National Hockey League
|date=April 8, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.newyorkislanders.com/pressbox/postgame.asp?id=1571
|title=Playoffs here we come!
|author=Jason Lockhart
|pub=New York Islanders
|date=April 8, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.sabres.com/newsarchive.cfm?id=986
|title=Sabres Drop Season Finale
|author=
|pub=Buffalo Sabres
|date=April 8, 2007}}

{{publish}} {{archive}}

[[Category:Stanley Cup Playoffs 2007]]
[[Category:National Hockey League]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Canada]]
[[Category:Ontario]]
[[Category:Ottawa, Ontario]]
[[Category:Ottawa Senators]]
[[Category:California]]
[[Category:Anaheim, California]]
[[Category:Anaheim Ducks]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Penguins]]
[[Category:Minnesota]]
[[Category:Minnesota Wild]]
[[Category:Ice hockey]]
Sixteen teams are ready to start the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The NHL has yet to announce dates and times for all games in the conference quarterfinals, but the first round will begin on April 11 and the match-ups are set as follows, with the top seeded team of each match having home-ice advantage:

;Eastern Conference
*Buffalo Sabres (1) vs. New York Islanders (8)
*Ottawa Senators (4) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (5)
*New Jersey Devils (2) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (7)
*Atlanta Thrashers (3) vs. New York Rangers (6)

;Western Conference
*Anaheim Ducks (2) vs. Minnesota Wild (7)
*Vancouver Canucks (3) vs. Dallas Stars (6)
*Detroit Red Wings (1) vs. Calgary Flames (8)
*Nashville Predators (4) vs. San Jose Sharks (5)

Going into the final day of the regular season, the Toronto Maple Leafs were ahead of the Islanders by one point and in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, but an Islanders win moved them a point ahead of the Leafs and secured their spot into the playoffs. Last year's champions, the Carolina Hurricanes, became the third team to win a Stanley Cup and fail to reach the playoffs the following season.

Having the best regular season record in the league, the Sabres took home the Presidents' Trophy. The Sabres earned 113 points from 53 wins, 22 losses, and 7 overtime losses. The Red Wings won the Western Conference crown with 113 points from 50 wins, 19 losses, and 13 overtime losses.
Stanley Cup Playoffs 2007 National Hockey League North America Pennsylvania Pittsburgh United States Canada Ontario Ottawa, Ontario Ottawa Senators California Anaheim, California Anaheim Ducks Pittsburgh Penguins Minnesota Minnesota Wild Ice hockey